2010: Library board appointees raise a lot of questions
Letter: Library board appointees raise a lot of questions
Published: Wednesday, March 10, 2010 5:42 PM EST
To the Editor:
I was appalled when I read about Upper Arlington City Council's president, Frank Ciotola, and his appointments to the Library Board.
Sixteen people put in their applications by the published deadline, Nov. 16, but apparently they were not the right people. All three of those appointed to the board submitted their applications more than seven weeks late, between Jan. 6 and 9.
My question is, "What was wrong with the other 16 applicants?" Why did Mr. Ciotola choose three people who all submitted their applications far past the published deadline?
You may remember that some anti-gay conservatives tried to have materials censored in the library that they did not like. They promised to pack the Library Board to get those materials removed, and now they have done that.
I am one citizen of Upper Arlington who believes that having the sole authority to appoint Library Board members places too much power in the hands of the president of council. We have seen that this authority can be abused. A true deadline should be set and all Library Board members voted on by City Council.
I suspect the Library Board will soon vote to ban materials in the library. We will have Frank Ciotola to thank for that sad day.
John Lytle